Boeing’s last 787-8 test aircraft, ZA004, has been transferred to the Pinal Airpark facility in Arizona following a comprehensive 16-year flight test career. Pushed beyond the operational limits a 787 Dreamliner would encounter in service, the aircraft played a defining role in establishing the performance, safety and maintenance standards that guide every 787 in operation today.
ZA004 joined the flight test program on February 24, 2010, registered as N7874. Over more than 670 test flights, it accumulated over 2,250 flight hours and visited more than 30 airports worldwide. In 2011, it performed the program’s 1,000th flight; supported certification of all Rolls-Royce 787 engine variants; and most recently participated in testing the Trent 1000 XE in 2025. In 2014, it served as the second ecoDemonstrator platform, evaluating more than 25 technologies aimed at improving efficiency and reducing emissions. The aircraft also conducted validation flights for power distribution system software upgrades following an in-flight electrical incident involving ZA002.
After completing its final test flight on February 3, the aircraft was welcomed back to Boeing Field in Seattle with a traditional water salute. Using its original air traffic callsign “Boeing 004,” ZA004 made its final journey to Pinal Airpark, where some components will support training and research activities, while others will be used as replacement parts and spares.
📹 @Boeing
